Conus (Papilliconus) radulfivillensis (Tracey & Craig, 2017)

 


Diagnosis (1): Small, up to 10 mm. in height, broadly ovately biconical, height : width ratio 2.0-2.4:1, smooth to faintly spirally striate shells, with some degree of angulation on the whorl periphery ; sinus relatively deep ; protoconch small, somewhat cylindrical compared to the rounded shell profile, with a disproportionally large initial whorl ; colour pattern of c. 14 narrow, dark spiral bands.

 

Discussion (1): The type species of Papilliconus appears to have few characters (apart from small size) in common with any other contemporaneous genus, and so a new name at generic rank is indicated. Papilliconus differs from Hemiconus by its ovate shape, mostly smooth surface, papillate protoconch and deeper sinus, and in lacking a beaded collar and peripheral nodules.

 

Diagnosis of P. radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): Very small ovate, more or less smooth shell, with a single or double keel at the periphery ; spiral colour bands somewhat spaced.

 

Description of P. radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): Small ovate-biconical shell, spire 35% of shell height ; protoconch small, papillate, diameter 620 μm., paucispiral of c. 1.75 whorls ; whorl profile concave above with a more or less prominent blunt keel below, becoming a double cord of variable strength on the periphery of the last whorl. Body whorl sinuous to slightly convex. Residual colour pattern of a subsutural dark band and 2 peripheral bands ; Sinus moderately deep, somewhat inequilateral ; outer lip gently rounded, aperture broad, lenticular ; columella straight. Large examples reach 10.0 x 4.8 mm.

 

Holotype of Papilliconus radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): NHMUK PI TG 26924 (leg. S. TRACEY). Natural History Museum London.

 

 

Type stratum and locality of P. radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): Late Eocene, ‘Argiles ŕ corbules’ (VIEILLARD & DOLLFUS, 1875), Rauville-la-Place (Manche).

 

Distribution of P. radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): Known only from the type locality.

 

Etymology of P. radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): After the village of Rauville-la-Place (Manche) where the species was excavated.

 

Discussion of P. radulfivillensis n. sp. (1): This differs from P. papillatus n. sp. by the spiral carination and the shallower sinus and less convex lip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Papilliconus radulfivillensis Tracey & Craig, n. sp.

 

96a-c. Holotype (96b protoconch. 96c apical) NHMUK PI TG 26924 (leg. S. TRACEY) Rauville-la-Place ;

97. Paratype NHMUK PI TG 26925 (leg. S. TRACEY) Rauville-la-Place ;

98. (with residual colour pattern enhanced) Paratype NHMUK PI TG 26926 (leg. S. TRACEY) Rauville-la-Place ;

99. Paratype NHMUK PI TG 26927 (leg. S. TRACEY) Rauville-la-Place.

 

 

 

 

 


Bibliografia Consultata